Using new degree (M.S.) before conferral??

[irish80122]

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Hi everyone,

I have recently defended my thesis and have met all of the requirements for my program to receive my M.S. However, since I did so at the start of this year, the degree will not be officially conferred until December. I am currently working on a poster (the conference is in April but the deadline is before December) and a manuscript and I am wondering if I should use B.A. or M.S. A professor in my program said that since I completed all of the requirements for the M.S. and it is just a matter of time until I receive it that I should start using M.S. instead of B.A. However, I am curious how it is seen in other programs.

Thanks!

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I would lean to the side of caution and go with B.A. If your submission is accepted you could always drop them a line asking to update your degree on their schedule....as long as it isn't a couple of weeks before the conference.

My only concern here would be if someone from the conference calls to confirm your credentials (if you were applying to be considered for a student presentation award, etc) your transcript may only list your conferral date, which hasn't happened yet.

A similiar issue recently came up on an e-mail list I read for post-docs, and there was a differentiation between meeting school requirements and conferral according to different licensing boards. In this example it probably doesn't matter, but it is something to consider.